Jets given a stern lesson by the Bulldogs

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Report on the NSW Cup trial match between Newtown and Canterbury-Bankstown played at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, 12th February 2011.

The Newtown Jets were well beaten in their NSW Cup trial match against Canterbury-Bankstown played at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday. The Bulldogs are the defending NSW Cup premiers and showed that they have the firepower and playing strength to throw out a strong challenge for this year's title. Canterbury won by 34-6 in a match that was played in three segments of around 25 minutes each.

The game was played in somewhat different climatic conditions to the inferno at Redfern Oval on the previous Saturday, with cool weather prevailing and light rain falling for most of this match.The Jets dropped far too much ball to be able to apply any extended pressure on the Bulldogs defence, and Newtown's own defensive performance was well below the standard displayed against South Sydney.

The Jets' completion rate for the match of just on forty per cent shows why Canterbury had a feast of possession and were able to score six tries to Newtown's one.

Newtown was best served by front-rower and captain Khalid Deeb who set a good example to his younger team-mates. Stylish centre Francis Vaiotu scored Newtown's only try and showed the poise and speed that will make him a player to watch this season. Front-rower Lama Tasi, a Roosters signing who was previously with the Ipswich Jets and Manly-Warringah, showed a lot of aggression and the willingness to do the hard yards. Tasi overstepped the disciplinary mark slightly last Saturday and was sent off in the third session of the game.

The Jets return to Henson Park next Saturday (19th February) for a NSW Cup trial match against Manly-Warringah that is timed to kick off at 5.00pm. This match will be preceded by curtain-raisers starting at 1.30pm.